Insights

The Future of University College Leadership

Date Posted:8 October 2025
Author:Dr Amanda Bell

The Australian residential university colleges are the quiet achievers in higher education.

Led by a rejuvenated professional association, University Colleges Australia (UCA), there is a deliberate strategy to provide insightful professional development programs for college councils and their (small in number) but highly motivated staff leaders.

Through UCA’s commitment to investing in opportunities for membership to learn together, a productive partnership was formed with Future Leadership to provide a webinar series and a tailored one-day masterclass for college heads. The content covered key governance topics, including: Leading at the Board Table; Strategy as a Platform for Leadership and Influence; and Shadow Culture.

The one-day Masterclass, the Future of Governance, resulted from the collaboration between Dr Liam Mayo, a sociologist and Futurist, and Dr Amanda Bell, an educationalist. Topics unpacked included board hygiene factors, sector trends, considering problems and initiatives via the Cynefin Model, and a deep dive into futures methodology and thinking.

The purpose was to challenge delegates from aspirational colleges to think differently about their strategic futures and their role in university life − for their students, staff and communities. The heads who attended clearly saw themselves as university-aligned educational providers, with ambitions to support and lift the intellectual success, leadership capabilities, and broad opportunities beyond those invested by their universities. These university college leaders see themselves as being much more than an accommodation provider (Hall of Residence). They are refreshingly thirsty for sector-specific professional learning opportunities that not only augment and lift their own knowledge and strategic thinking, but that of their aspirational staff.

The feedback from UCA members has been affirming, and we look forward to continuing partnerships, not only with UCA, but with individual colleges as well.

“Your UCA session just now was fantastic. Truly, genuinely, deeply useful.” – College Principal.


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